Method of making storage-battery grids.



E. F. ANDREAE.

METHOD OF MAKING STORAGE BATTER'Y GRIDS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5,1916.

Patented. Dec. 31, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET] B) M M ATTORNEY Mg INVENTOR E. F. ANDREAE.

METHOD OF MAKING STORAGE BATTERY GRIDS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.5| I916.

Patented D60. 31, 1918.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2 FOR/VET E. F. ANDREAE. METHOD OF MAKING STORAGE BATTERYGRIDS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5.1916.

1,289,356. Patented Dec. 31,1918.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

E. F. ANDREAE.

METHOD OF MAKING STORAGE BATTERY GRIDS.

E. F. ANDREAE.

METHOD OF MAKING STORAGE BATTERY ems.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT. 51, I916.

Patented Deg 31, 1918.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

w III/VE/I/TOR Br $1M Aufl 4170mm f E. F. ANDR METHOD OF MAKING STORA YGRIDS.

APPLICATION FIL'ED SEPT. 5

1,289,356. 7 Patented Dec. 81,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

, V V 77ZMNVENTOR BY A EY sin nwr @FFME.

EDWARD F. ANDREAE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL LEADBATTERIES-COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed September 5, 1916. Serial No. 118,563.

T '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EnwAno F. Annnnsn. a citizen of the United States,residin v at Newark, in the county of Essex and tate of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new being made in my co-pending application.

Serial Number 110,494.

An object of the invention is to simplify and render less expensive theoperation of manufacturing such grids.

A further object of the invention 18 to provide a process whereby astronger and more etiicient grid may be formed.

A further object of the invention is'to rovidea process which may becarried out y a simpler apparatus than that heretofore employed.

Other an ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an apparatus by which theinvention may be carried out and a product formed in accordancetherewith,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine for handling the mold parts;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, broken away at the center, of the mold face ofone of the mold halves;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mold face of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5'is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the mold face of the other half;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. i: of a portion of the moldface of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation partly broken away of the two mold partstogether in position for molding;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the struc:

handle is limited by ture of Fi 8 partly broken away to show the edge 0the mold faces;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the ap aratus of Fig. 8 with variousparts bro en away to Show the relations of diiierent portions of theclosed mold;

Fig. 11 is a section through a projection and its cooperating depressionwhen the mold faces are together; this view being on the same scale asFigs. 4 and 7, and being on the lines 1111 of the devices of thosefigures when they are together;

Fi 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 on the lines 12-12 of Figs. t and 7;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the grid forliged on a scale reduced fromthat of the mo Fig. 14: is a section on the line 141% of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a view on the line 15-45 of Fig. 13 looking in the directionof the arrows, being partly in section; and

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the sectio al portion of Fig. 15.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Fig 1, the apparatus formounting and operating the mold may consist of the frame. it upon whichis a head 0 carrying the stationary part of the mold. The mold is in twoparts I) and E, one of them being carried on th head C and the other ina bracket F pivoted to the frame at G and having a counter weight H. Themold sections are operated by the toggle compri ing the links I and K.the former being pivoted to the bracket F at lb and to the link K at M.The link K is also pivoted to the frame at N and is extended beyond thesame to the handle 0. Downward movement of the an adjustable stop P.

Also the length of the link I may be made adjustable by having itscentral portion secured in its extremities by reverse screw threadsafter the manner of a turn buckle so that the mold parts will be held inproper relative positions.

With the parts in the position shown, the mold parts are together sothat the molten metal (that of storage battery grids is usuallyantimonious lead) may be poured into the mold. Usually the mold partsare heated Mid by gas flamesorother suitable means to prevent quickchilling of the metal which would interfere with its flow through thesmall passages. The whole may be built of metal, and as is well known inconnection with castings of this character, the metal of which the moldis formed is usually iron.

, Onlifting the handle 0 the mold parts se arate so that the grid can beremoved and a ter such removal the mold may be again closed bydepressing the handle.

One of the mold parts D'and E is shown in' Figs. 2, 3 and 4, andcomprises a plate 1 having a channel cut through it from side to sideleaving the outstanding end heads 2 and 3. lVithin the channel arefitted stri s 4 having grid forming passages. A suflicient number ofthese strips to give the desired size are laid side by side and securedto the plate 1 byscrews 5. One end of the channel in the plate is closedby a bar secured to the plate by screws 6 and theother end is similarlyclosed by a bar 7 having a recess 8 tapering inwardly as shown for theentrance of the poured metal and communicates by grooves 9 with the gridforming passages. Each strip has a series of faces as 10 insubstantiallythe same plane alternating with faces as 11 in another plane, the latterfaces being on projections 12 extending from the strip and so beingelevated above the faces 10 which are relatively depressed. The distancebetween the plane of the two sets of faces, 2'. e. the height of theprojections, is equal to the thickness of the space desired between thetwo lattices.

The elevated faces 11 are plane while in the faces 10 are inclinedgrooves 13 for forming the bars of a grating or lattice, these groovesbeing V shaped in section and extending from one side ofthe strip to theother. The corners of the strips at the ends of the grooves 13 arebeveled as at 14 so that, with thebeveled faces as 15 of adjacentstrips, grooves 16 of V shaped section are formed into which thegrooves. 13 open and which open at their ends into the channel 17 forforming the top of the. peripheral frame of the grid and the channel 18for forming the bottom of the grid frame. Extending between and openinginto the channels 17 and 18 are the channels 19 and 20 for forming theside bars of the marginal frame of the grid. The adjacent lattice bargrooves open into thechannels 19 and 20 and the pouring grooves 9 openinto the former channel. A channel.21 for forming the terminal lug ofthe grid is cut in the end head 2 and opens into the channel17, theouter end of the channel 21 being stopped by a plug 22 the top of whichis flush with the surface of the head 2.

The grooves 16 are for forming partitions extending between the twolatticesand have i,ase,see

their bottoms in substantially the same plane as the bottoms of thegrooves 13 for forming the lattice bars and the channels 17, 18, 19

and 20 for forming the peripheral frame of the grid.

The grooves 13 are o inclined that the corners as 23 and 24 of theprojections 12 at the ends of the grooves are cut away and,,it will beobserved, the strip faces are made up of duplicate sections eachconsisting of a depressed and an elevated face with grooves and bevelsas described.- Thi is clearly shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 4 showing the upper end of the right hand strip of Fig. 2. The strip is madeof any length desired by multiplying the sections with the elevated anddepressed faces in alternation. The sides of the projections 12 arepreferably made inclined to facilitate manufacture and to provide drawin separating the mold parts. v

The tructure of the strips is the same except that in the structureshown the lattice that there are very small clearances 29 between themforming passages from the grooves 16 to the grooves 26. These clearanceswith their connected grooves and pas-' sagfsform vents to the outside ofthe mold permitting escape of .the air beforethe incoming metal therebypreventing the formation of air spaces in the mold which might excludethe metal from portions of the mold and result in an imperfect casting.

The clearances 29 are very narrow sothat no material amount of thepoured metal will enter them to any considerable degree. A width of twoor three thousandths of an inch has given good results.

'The other mold part is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and is similarto that just described. having the plate 1 with the central channel andthe raised end heads 2 and 3', the ends of the channel being closed bybars, the bar 7 having the tapered pouring reces 8' and the grooves 9communicating with the grid forming passages. Similarly it has thestrips 4 carrying the inclined V shaped grooves 13' for the lattice barsin depressed faces 10, elevated faces 11 being carried on projections 12extending from between the depressed faces. Also the strips are beveledto form the grooves 16' extend- 25 grooves 16'.

ing between the groove 17 for the top and the groove 18 for the bottomof the grid frame, the grooves 19 and 20 for forming' the sides of thegrid frame extending between the grooves 17' and 18'. Also in a mannersimilar to that described in connection with the other mold part, thebottoms of the strips 4 are beveled at the corners to form grooves 26"communicating with passages 27 and'28 in the end heads and forming withthe clearances 29' between the strips, air vents for the mold. Also achannel 21 is cut in the end head 2. This channel opens into the groove17' and is for forming the terminal lug. Its end isclosed 23'- and 24',the lattice bar grooves of alternate groups are reversely inclined, openinto the V shaped grooves 16' at substantially 0pposite points and havetheir bottoms in substantially the same plane with those of the Thestructure of strip face is most clearly shown in the enlarged view Fig.7 showing the upper end of the left hand strip of Fig. 5.

The parts of the mold halvesare so relatively arranged that whenthey areplaced together the recesses 8 and 8' register forming a tapered chamberas shown clearly in Fig. 8, for receiving the poured metal and of alength substantially coextensive with a side of the grid. Also the gridframe forming channels 17, 18, 19, 20 and 17, 18, 19", 20' register witheach other respectively; also the lug forming channels 21 and 21register. The grooves 9 and 9 register respectively as do also thegrooves 16 and 16'. The projections 12 enter between the projections12', closely fitting against their sides, and their plane faces 11 closethe sides of the grooves 13 in the depressed faces 10' against which t5they closely fit, the projections 12 fitting by the grooves 16 and 16and, at the sides of the grid, into the grid frame forming passages. Thegrooves 13 in one of the. mold parts are oppositely inclined to thegrooves 13 in the other mold part so that their -ends are adjacent andthe cutting away of the corners as 23' and 24 of the projections formpassages between grooves in one mold part and the adjacent grooves inthe other mold parts, extending a short distance alongthem from theirends. These passages are shown at 30 in Fig. 9.

The meeting plane of the faces 11 and 10" and the meeting plane of thefaces 10 and 11' are on oppositesides of the center lines formed in theof the passages formed by the grooves 16 and 16'. The inclined sides ofeach of these grooves therefore extend to a greater dis tance from thecenter line at the ends of the elevated. faces 11 and 11 than at theends of the depressed faces 10 and 10. The result is that the depressedfaces 10 overhang the grooves as shown at 31 in Fig. 11, on one side ofthe plane through the center line of the passages while the faces 10-overhang the grooves, as shown at 33 in Fig. 12, on the other side ofthat plane. The alternate, overhanging faces face in opposite directionsand are on opposite sides of the plane of the center lines.

The mold parts are guided and held in suitable registry by dowel pins 34in one part entering holes 35 in the other part.

Fig. 10 aids in understanding the relations of the mold parts whenclosed for moldingr At the lower portion of the figure the overlyingmold half is broken away and also half of the underlying part, showingthe venting passages. Immediately above this the overlying mold partonly is removed, showing the face of the underlying mold half.Immediately above this the backing plate only of the overlying mold halfis removed showing the strips carrying the mold grooves of the overlyingmold half. Above these a face view of the outside of the mold is shown.

The mold parts having been secured in cooperating position, as by theapparatus of Fig. 1, the molten metal is poured into the funnel shapedchamber formed by the recesses 8 and 8' and thence passes through thepassages formed by grooves 9 and 9' to the grid forming passages. Anintegral grid structure as shown in Figs. 13 to 16 is formed comprisingthe marginal frame formedby the solid top. bottom, and side bars 34, 35.36, and 37, formed in the passages including the grooves 17, 18, 19. 20.the lug 38 extending from the top bar 34 being passage formed by thechannels 21 and 21.

Between the top and bottom bars ex end the ribs, partitions or spacers39 located between the lattices. These ribs have a sect on which is thatof a double triangle being formed in the passages composed of thegrooves 16 and 16'. As has been noted certain faces overhang thesegrooves and this results in the formation of the shoulders as 40, 41, onthe sides of the grid frame bars and on the sides of the ribs 39,alternate pairs of shoulders along each rib facing in oppositedirections and being on opposite sides of the center line of the rib.

' The lattice bars as 42 and ,42 are of V shaped section and extendbetween adjacent ribs 39 and the frame and adjacent ribs, being formedin the grooves 13 and 13. The bars of each row of one lattice, betweentwo aeaaae adjacent ribs are reversely inclined to those of the otherlattice. The ends of the bars of the two lattices are adjacent as shown,and

between the adjacent ends are webs 43 extending from the ribs 39 a shortdistance along the lattice bars, these webs being formed in the passagesas 30 formed by cutting away the corners of the projections as beforereferred to.

In the process of forming the grid, the cooperating molding parts areformed with elevated and depressed faces as 11 and 10 and 11 and 10, theopposed faces of the parts fitting closely together when placed inmolding position. After the parts have been thus formed grooves as 13and 13 for forming the lattice bars are cut in the faces referred to.This manner of formation permits a standard form of blank to be used inwhich the lattice bar forming grooves may be given any desired size orsectional shape within a wide range and alarge variation in theinclination and relationship of the lattice bars may be effected bysimply cutting the appropriate grooves in the blank faces. Also the cutsmay be made so that strengthening webs may be formed in the desired wayormay be left out as dictated by the particular conditions being met.Where the grid is to be of sufficient size, requiring supporting meansother than the peripheral frame, between the lattices, grooves as 16.and 16 for forming the partitions as 39 ex tending between the latticesare formed in the faces of the mold parts. The Process of formation isfacilitated if each of the cooperating grid forming parts is formed of aseries of strips as 4: or'i having elevated and depressed faces, asbefore described. This facilitates the cutting of the lattice barforming grooves. The cutting tool may be tice grid for storagebatter1es,.which con run all the way across the strips, without dangerof injuring any adjacent parts at the ends of the stroke as would be thecase if it were attempted to cut out these grooves with the partsassembled. Also in order to provide the partitioi-iyforming grooves as16, the corners of the strips are beveled as before described. Thestrips are then assembled in a frame so that they will occupy therelative positions as before described. The grid molding parts are thenplaced together as previously described and the metal poured.

The poured metal having sufliciently solidified in the mold, the moldparts are separated, the projections 12 and 12' occupying the spacebetween the lattices being laterally withdrawn in opposite directions,those attached to one mold part being withdrawn through the openings"between the lattice bars of one lattice and those attached to the othermold part being withdrawn through the apertures of the other lattice.

The grid is now free to be removed and the lattices are separated by aspace occupied in the mold by the projections 12 and 12.

The grid having been removed, the mold may be closed and the operationrepeated.

While one application of the process and apparatus for carrying it outhave been set forth in detail it is to be understood that the process isnot limited to the precise details enumerated and that it may be carriedout by other apparatus than that shown inthe drawings. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of forming a double latticegrid for storage batteries, which consists in casting metal in a mold toform a grid having two substantially parallel and separated lattices ofinclined bars and withdrawing all of the 'mold parts from the grid bymovement at an angle to the planes of the lattices. 2. The method offorming a double lattice grid for storage batteries, which consists incasting metal in a mold to" form a grid having two substantiallyparallel and separated lattices of inclined bars and withdrawing all ofthe mold parts from the grid by movement substantially at right anglesto the planes of the lattices.

if). The method of forming a double lattice grid forstorage batteries,which consists in casting metal in a mold to form a grid havmg twosubstantially parallel and separated lattices of inclined bars, saidmold comprisng material occupying space between the two lattices, andwithdrawing the mold parts from the grid the mold portions between thelattices being" withdrawn through ..the apertures between the bars of alattice.

at. The method of formin a double latsists in casting metal in a mold toform a gr1d having two substantially parallel and separated lattices ofinclined bars, surrounded by a solid peripheral frame, and withdrawingall of the mold parts from the grid by movement at substantially rightangles to the planes of the lattice.

5. The method of forming a double latt ce grid for storage batteries,which consists 1n casting metal in a mold to form a grid having twosubstantially parallel and separated lattices of inclined bars, saidmold comprising material occupying space between the two lattices, andwithdrawing the mold parts from the grid, the mold portions between thelattices being partially withdrawn through the apertures in one latt1ce,and partially withdrawn through the apertures in the other lattice.

6. The method of forming a mold for consists in forming blanks havingrelatively elevated and depressed faces, forming groves in said faces sothat there will be two sets of grooves in separated planes when theblanks are placed in cooperative relation and placing the grooved blanksin cooperative relation to form a mold.

7. The method of forming a mold for making a double latticed grid, whichconsists in forming blanks having relatively elevated and depressedfaces, forming grooves in said faces, assembling a plurality of saidblanks in a frame to form a mold part, and placing said mold part incooperating relation with another mold part to form a mold for the grid.

8. The method of forming a mold for making a double latticed batterygrid which consists in forming blanks having relatively elevated anddepressed faces, forming grooves in said faces, removing metal from theblanks to form partition grooves open ing into the aforesaid grooves,said grooves in the completed mold opening into the bar forming groovesfor both lattices, and placing the grooved blanks in cooperativerelation to form a mold.

9. The method of forming a mold for making a double latticed batterygrid which consists in forming blanks having relatively elevated anddepressed faces, forming grooves in said faces and beveling said blanksat the ends of said grooves, assembling said blanks in a frame to form amold part, and placing said mold part in operative relation with anothermold part.

10. The method of forming a inold for making a double latticed batterygrid which consists in forming a plurality of blanks having relativelydepressed and elevated faces, cutting grooves in said faces from side toside of the blanks, beveling the blanks at the endsof the said grooves,assembling the blanks in each of two frames, so that in each frame thebevels form grooves, the grooves thus formed in one mold partregistering with the'similar groovesin the other mold part and thedepressed faces of one mold part engagin the elevated faces of the othermold part when the mold parts are assembled and assembling the moldparts to receive the cast metal to form the grid.

In testimony whereof, I, have signed my name to this specification, this21st day of August, 1916.

EDWARD F. ANDREAE.

